Get ready for a ghoulishly good time!
Beware, “Spirits of the Past” is back at GCV&M for 2025! Join us for an enchanting nighttime event within the dark recesses of our 19th-century village. This year tours will be stepping back in time to Whitechapel, London, 1888 as they search for Jack the Ripper!
Tours last approximately 75 minutes, and groups will leave the Toll House during their time window and enter the dark and spooky recesses of the Historic Village.
Before and after your tour, rest your bones at the “Spirits Lounge” or the “Fright” House Pub, where you can delight in a ghoulishly good beverage and bite to eat. (Make sure to arrive earlier than your tour time if you would like to build in time to enjoy our food and beverage offerings!)
Spirits of the Past: A Walk in the Dark runs for two weekends:
Friday, October 17 (SOLD OUT), Saturday, October 18 (SOLD OUT) & Sunday, October 19
Friday, October 24 (SOLD OUT), Saturday, October 25 (SOLD OUT), & Sunday, October 26 (SOLD OUT)
Event sponsor:
Prepare yourself for a terrifying tour...
When you purchase your Spirits of the Past ticket, you will be prompted to select your tour time window. In that 30-minute window (or “session”), you will line up at the Toll House and tours will launch on a regular schedule. Once assembled, the group will exit the Toll House with a guide and enter the candle-lit recesses of the 19th-century village. You walk in the dark will be approximately 75 minutes in length.
The 5:30 tour on each Sunday (October 19 and October 26) is ASL and sensory-friendly (no jump scares or loud noises). Please select the first tour session and be ready to take your guided tour at 5:30 p.m. sharp if you need ASL or the sensory-friendly tour.
Step into Whitechapel, London, 1888
A place of shadows, turmoil, and fear. Whitechapel was one of London’s poorest slums, crowded with the desperate and the displaced.
Enter a time before modern forensics and walk alongside Scotland Yard, newspaper editors, maids, and more as they live through one of the most famous cold cases of the 19th century – The Jack the Ripper case!
Indulge at the Spirits Lounge and "Fright House" Pub
Delight in a ghoulishly good beverage in the Spirits Lounge and “Fright House” Pub before or after your tour in the Village!
Shop the Flint Hill Store
Don’t forget to stop by the Flint Hill Store when you join us for Spirits of the Past: A Walk in the Dark!
You’ll find a variety of spooky, mystical, and fun seasonal products, in addition to our village-made pottery, maple goods, fudge, GCV&M merch, and more!
The Flint Hill Gift Shop will be open from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. each night of Spirits.
Ticket Information
Fridays & Saturdays:
Museum Members | $30
General Public | $34
Sundays:
Museum Members | $28
General Public | $31
Spirits of the Past tickets are absolutely non-refundable; make sure you are purchasing the correct date and tour session BEFORE completing purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please refrain from filming during this theatrical production. Photos without flash are permitted.
The Walk is about 75 minutes in length. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the predicted weather conditions.
Yes of course! On all nights of Spirits of the Past, we’ll have our Depot Restaurant, Spirits Lounge, and “Fright” House Pub open for our guests to enjoy – with food, drink, and of course our signature spooky cocktails.
On Fridays, doors open at 5 p.m., and the first tour launches at 6 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, doors open at 5 p.m., and the first tour launches at 5:30 p.m. Please do not arrive before 5 p.m.; the Museum will be closed to visitors until that time.
- When purchasing your ticket(s), you are prompted to select a 30-minute tour session.
- During that session, tours launch from the Toll House every 8 1/2 minutes (for example 6 pm, 6:08 pm, 6:16 pm, 6:24 pm).
- You will get in line at the Toll House during your half-hour session and hand in your tour card when your group is ready to launch.
- Tour groups consist of around 22 individuals, plus the tour guide.
- You MUST take your tour within your purchased session time. If you are late, or miss your session, we cannot guarantee you a spot on a later tour.
No. The entire Museum will close to all visitors from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. so that we can reset for the Spirits event.
You may not visit the Historic Village during Spirits unless you are on your guided tour.
Each walking tour will contain 22 individuals, and once assembled, will exit the Toll House with a guide.
If you feel that you need a small flashlight or the flashlight on your phone for mobility or safety purposes, please feel free to have one on hand. The paths will be dimly lit, and some are uneven. However, please keep your flashlight pointed at the ground as to not blind your tour guide or disrupt the spooky scenes as you enter them!
No. This is an almost mile-long nighttime walking tour, and you will be going in and out of buildings, some of which are accessible and some are not. Guest transport is not available at this event
Spirits of the Past is rain or shine! A little drizzle will only add to your spooky experience. Please be prepared to dress for the weather, and in the case of rain, overflow covered spaces (next to the bonfire) will be available to guests to eat and drink before or after their Walk in the Dark!
All GCV&M tickets are strictly non-transferable by date, entry time, or program.
We ask that guests do not bring alcohol on site for Spirits of the Past Tours (this includes the GCV&M parking not – no pre-gaming, please!). There will, however, be plenty of craft beer, hard cider, and spooky cocktails available in the Fright House Pub and Spirits Lounge!
Strollers and wagons will not be allowed past the Toll House for this event. Village paths are uneven, and there are buildings where you will be entering the front door and exiting the back door, which tend to be very narrow and not suitable for strollers or wagons.
While there are no jump-scares or scenes of a truly shocking nature, this tour is not recommended for young children. Parental discretion is advised.
Tickets for this event are limited and sell out FAST! Tickets will not be available for purchase onsite and must be purchased online in advance.
- There is absolutely NO smoking or vaping past the front parking lots. You will be removed from the Historic Village if you are smoking or vaping.
- We do not allow outside alcohol on our campus. No pre-gaming will be allowed in the parking lot.
- No food or beverages are allowed in the historic buildings.
- There is no climbing permitted on trees, statues, fences, or exhibits.
- Do not try to pet or harass the farm animals.
No, please leave your pet at home. We allow only leashed, certified service animals with proper identification.
We’re sorry to hear you won’t be joining us! Tickets are absolutely non-refundable for this event and are strictly non-transferable by date, entry time, or program.
